Adjustable catalytic heater and replaceable wick assembly therefor

ABSTRACT

A catalytic heater is provided with a wick assembly which can be replaced when necessary and which permits the heat output of the heater to be varied. An elongated wick is secured within a generally cylindrical support tube, and an attaching collar extends radially outwardly from the support tube for removably securing the support tube and wick to the catalytic heater. The lower end of the wick extends into the fount of the heater, and the upper end of the wick extends into the vapor collection space of the combustion head of the heater for supplying fuel to the vapor collection space by capillary action. A tubular sleeve is slidably received by the upper portion of the wick, and the sleeve is movable by lever means between a raised position in which most of the wick within the vapor collection space is covered by the sleeve and a lowered position in which most of the wick within the vapor collection space is exposed. The combustion head is removably secured to the fount by a tubular connector to permit replacement of the wick and support tube when desired.

ilnite tates atet [191 May [ 51 May 22,1973

[75] Inventor: Randall L. May, Andover, Kans.

[73] Assignee: The Coleman Wichita, Kans.

[22] Filed: July 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 161,204

Company, Inc.,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,441,242 5/1948 l-larkins ..431/324 X 3,343,586 9/1967 Berchtold et al. ..431/241 3,457,021 7/1969 Gladden et al. ....431/35O X 3,042,108 7/1962 Boij et al. ..431/323 Primary ExaminerCarroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney-Dawson, Tilton, Fallon & Lungmus [57] ABSTRACT A catalytic heater is provided with a wick assembly which can be replaced when necessary and which permits the heat output of the heater to be varied. An elongated wick is secured within a generally cylindrical support tube, and an attaching collar extends radially outwardly from the support tube for removably securing the support tube and wick to the catalytic heater. The lower end of the wick extends into the fount of the heater, and the upper end of the wick extends into the vapor collection space of the combustion head of the heater for supplying fuel to the vapor collection space by capillary action. A tubular sleeve is slidably received by the upper portion of the wick, and the sleeve is movable by lever means between a raised position in which most of the wick within the vapor collection space is covered by the sleeve and a lowered position in which most of the wick within the vapor collection space is exposed. The combustion head is removably secured to the fount by a tubular connector to permit replacement of the wick and support tube when desired.

15 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PAIEm umzzma SHEET 1 or 3 INVENTOR: RANDALL L. MAY

PATENTEWYZZIQB 3,784,682

INVENTOR. RANDALL L. M AY $1., l I: h I

ATT'YS PATENTED MAY 2 21975 SHEET 3 OF 3 FIGS FIGII INVENTOR: RANDALL L. MAY

ATT' YS ADJUSTABLE CATALYTIC HEATER AND REPLACEABLE WICK ASSEMBLY THEREFOR BACKGROUND This invention relates to catalytic heaters of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,457,021 and Re.26,976. More particularly, this invention relates to a variable heat output catalytic heater and a replaceable wick assembly therefor.

An improved catalytic heater is described in U.S. Pat. No. Re.26,976. This heater is capable of sustaining a substantially uniform high rate of fuel consumption from full fuel charge to empty. U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,021 discloses a similar catalytic heater which is provided with means for controllably and selectively varying the heat output.

Maximum efficiency is obtained from this type of heater if a fuel is used which does not contain tetraethyl lead compounds, oil, kerosene, or other material which may decompose or fractionate under the high temperatures maintained in the combustion head. Such compounds may deposit on the wick, and the wick may eventually become so covered and embedded with these compounds that the efficiency of the heater will be seriously impaired. Heretofore, the wick assembly was relatively permanently positioned within the heater, and replacement of the wick was generally performed at the factory rather than by the user.

SUMMARY The invention provides a replaceable wick assembly for a variable heat output catalytic heater. The wick assembly is removably secured to the tubular connector which mounts the combustion head on the fount, and the tubular connector is itself removably secured to the fount. Adjustability of the heater is provided by a sleeve which slides up and down over the upper portion of the wick, and the wick assembly can be easily removed when desired by disconnecting the tubular connector from the fount and disconnecting the wick assembly from the tubular connector. The wick assembly can therefore be replaced quickly and relatively inexpensively. When the wick is positioned within the heater, it is maintained in a fixed position with the lower end thereof contacting the bottom of the fount and the upper end thereof spaced the optimum distance from the catalytic element. Heat adjustment is obtained by moving the sleeve as desired over the upper end of the wick to expose more or less of the surface area of the wick to the vapor collection space within the combustion head. The sleeve is moved axially by lever means pivotally mounted within the tubular connector, and actuating means are provided for pivoting the lever means and for releasably locking the sleeve in the raised position for minimum heat output and in the lowered position for maximum heat output.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a catalytic heater embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 1 showing the wick sleeve in a raised position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the replaceable wick assembly;

' connector of the heater looking toward the combustion head showing the actuating arm releasably locking the wick sleeve in the lowered position;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the actuating arm in an intermediate position; I

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIGS. 9 and 10 showing the actuating arm releasably locking the wick sleeve in the raised position;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 1313 of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 1414 of FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, the numeral 20 designates generally a catalytic heater which is generally of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. Re.26,976 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,021. The heater includes a base housing 21, a combustion head 22, and a tubular connector 23 which extends between the combustion head and the base housing. The combustion head 22 provides an enclosed fuel vapor collection space 24 and includes a porous catalytic combustion element 25 which is in vapor transfer relation with collection space 24.

The base housing or fount 21 provides a reservoir 26 for a liquid fuel, and the reservoir is of the open or unpacked type. A capillary action wick 27 contacts the bottom wall 28 of the fount and extends upwardly through the tubular connector and into the vapor collection space of the combustion head. The base housing includes a generally frusto-conical side wall 29 which extends upwardly from the bottom wall 28 and a top wall 30 which is provided with a central opening defined by a circular, downwardly extending flange 31 which terminates in a radially inwardly extending annular rim 32. A generally cylindrical attaching sleeve 33 is received by the central opening in the top wall 30, and the sleeve includes a radially inwardly extending annular bottom wall 34 which abuts the inwardly turned rim 32. The cylindrical sleeve 33 and the annular wall 34 are suitably secured, respectively, to' the flange 31 and the rim 32, as by welding.

The upper portion of the attaching sleeve 33 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced generally L-shaped slots 36, each of the slots having a mouth portion 37 (FIG. 5) extending generally downwardly or vertically from the upper edge 33a of the sleeve and a generally horizontally extending portion 38. In the particular heater illustrated the attaching sleeve is provided with three slots 36 spaced about apart, and, as will be explained more fully hereinafter, the tubular connector 23 is releasably secured to the attaching sleeve by means of radially outwardly extending pins 39 which are received by the slots.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the upper end of the tubular connector 23 terminates in a radially outwardly extending flange 40 which is secured to the bottom wall 41 of the combustion head by a plurality of rivets 42 (FIG. 9). An annular insulating gasket 43 is interposed be tween the flange 40 and the bottom wall 41 to reduce heat transfer from the bottom wall to the tubular connector and to prevent vapor leakage. The bottom wall 41 does not extend inwardly beyond the tubular connector, but a combustion head stiffener plate 44, which is also secured to the bottom wall 41 by means of the rivets, is provided with a central opening defined by an upwardly turned rim 45. The outer periphery of the stiffener plate terminates in an upwardly extending U- shaped flange 46.

The catalytic combustion element 25 has a generally frusto-conical side portion 47 and a somewhat domeshaped top portion 48, and the catalytic element includes an outer screen 49, a catalyst layer 50 adjacent the screen, and a backing layer 51. The catalytic element extends downwardly adjacent the U-shaped flange 46 of the stiffener plate and is secured to the bottom wall 41 by a generally L-shaped peripheral clamping flange 52. A layer 53 of non-combustible insulating material is positioned over the stiffener plate and covered by a heat-reflecting layer 54 of metal foil. If desired, a suitable protective cover can be positioned over the combustion head and hingedly secured to the base housing.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the numeral 56 designates generally a replaceable wick assembly for the heater which includes the elongated, generally cylindrical wick 27 and a wick support tube 57. The wick 27 can be formed of many different materials and have various cross-sectional shapes while achieving the objects of the present invention. Preferably, however, the wick is formed of non-combustible fibers or filaments 58, such as fiber glass, and a woven outer tube 59 of a suitable non-combustible material which encloses the tightly packed, vertically extending filaments 58. The upper end of the wick may be tightly wrapped with one or more wraps 60 of asbestos mantle yarn, and the woven outer tube 59 may be cut adjacent the bottom end of the wick, or may terminate short of the bottom end of the wick, to permit the ends of the filaments 58 to be relatively loosely arranged adjacent the bottom of the fount.

The wick support tube 57 is secured to the wick to prevent axial movement of the wick therein by staking or lancing the wall of the support tube inwardly into the wick to pierce the outer woven tube 59. In the particular embodiment illustrated, two pairs 61 and 62 of axially spaced stakes are used, each pair extending in generally opposite axial directions to firmly anchor the wick.

A generally circular and planar attaching collar 63 extends radially outwardly from the wick support tube and is secured thereto by means of an axially extending perimetric flange 64. Three tabs 65 are provided around the periphery of the collar by punching the collar at generally equally spaced portions along the outer periphery thereof. Each tab includes a generally upwardly extending portion 66 and an outwardly extending generally planar portion 67 which extends generally parallel with the plane of the collar. The periphery of 4 the collar may also be provided with a vent notch 68.

As can be seen best in FIGS. 1 and 7, the tubular connector 23 includes a generally cylindrical side wall 71 and a transversely extending bottom wall 72 which are joined by a downwardly and inwardly extending frustoconical wall 73. The bottom wall 72 is provided with central opening 74 having a circular periphery 75 of a diameter less than the diameter of the periphery of the attaching collar 63, three outwardly extending notch portions 76 for receiving the tabs 65, and one or more pressure-equalizing holes 77. The outer periphery of the notches 76 are spaced from the center of the opening 74 a distance slightly greater than the radius of the tabs so that the wick support tube 63 and the tabs 67 can be inserted through the opening 74 in the tubular connector. The attaching collar is larger than the opening 74, and the straight portions 67 of the tabs 65 are advantageously spaced from the plane of the collar a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the bottom wall 72 of the tubular connector. The wick assembly 56 can therefore be releasably secured to the tubular connector by inserting the tabs 65 through the notches 76 and then rotating the wick assembly to position the tabs over unnotched portions of the bottom wall 72. The wall 72 would then be positioned between the end portions 67 of the tabs and the outer periphery of the collar 63, and the wick assembly would be secured against axial movement. The circular periphery 75 of the central opening 74 has a radius greater than the distance of the upwardly extending portions66 of the tabs, and this periphery restrains axial movement of the wick assembly. For purposes of clarity the wick is not shown in FIG. 7, but it is to be understood that the wick is secured within the wick support tube 57 when the wick assembly is secured to the tubular connector.

The tubular connector is in turn releasably secured to the base housing by means of the pins or projections 39 which cooperate with the L-shaped slots 36 in the attaching sleeve 33. The cylindrical wall 71 of the tubular connector has a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the attaching sleeve, and a rubber O-ring 78 provides both insulation and a vapor seal between the tubular connector and the housing. The outside diameter of the O-ring is slightly less than the inside diameter of the attaching sleeve 33, and the O-ring is supported by the inwardly extending annular wall 34. The tubular connector is attached by inserting the projections 39 into the mouth portions 37 of the slots and then rotating the tubular connector relative to the attaching sleeve to bring the projections into the horizontal portions 38 of the slots. As the tubular connector is moved downwardly to bring the projections 39 into alignment with the slot portions 38, the O-ring 78 is compressed by the frusto-conical wall 73 of the tubular connector and forced against both the attaching sleeve 33 and the annular bottom wall 34 at the juncture thereof. If desired, the slots 36 may also be provided with a slightly upwardly extending end portion 79 (FIG. 5) into which the projections 39 are biased by the resilient O-ring to prevent inadvertent removal of the tubular connector. When the connector is to be removed, it need only be forced slightly downwardly and then rotated relative to the base housing.

A generally cylindrical wick sleeve or cover 80 is slidably received by the upper portion of the wick and extends slidably through the central opening in the combustion head stiffener plate 44. The inside diameter of the sleeve is just slightly greater than the diameter of the wick, and the outside diameter of the sleeve is just slightly less than the diameter of the upwardly turned inner rim 45 of the stiffener plate.

The sleeve 80 is supported by a lever assembly designated generally by the numeral 81 in FIG. I for axial sliding movement between a lowered position illustrated in FIG. 1 and a raised position illustrated in FIG. 2. The lever assembly 81 includes a generally U-shaped yoke 82 (FIGS. 5 and 8) having a pair of slotted ends 83 which slidably receive a pair of diametrically opposed outwardly extending pins 84 on the sleeve 80. A lever arm 85 is secured to the yoke and extends through an opening in the tubular connector 23. The lever 85 is pivotally mounted for movement in a generally vertical plane passing through the axis of the wick by means of a ball and socket mounting shown in FIG. 8. A ball fitting 86 is carried by the lever arm and is rotatable in a spherical socket 87 provided in a ring 88. The ring is secured to the tubular connector by a cap 89 which is threadedly secured to an externally threaded projection 90 on the tubular connector. The ball 86 also projects slightly through the openings provided in the tubular connector and the cap 89.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the lever arm 85 is pivotable by a crank 92 which is rotatably supported by a bracket 93 secured to the tubular connector. The crank includes a generally straight central portion 94 which extends through the bracket 93 generally perpendicularly to the lever arm 85 and in general alignment with the ball and socket mounting therefor (FIG. 9). A first end portion 95 is offset from the central portion 94 by an angled portion 96 and extends generally parallel with the central portion. The other end of the crank terminates in a generally U-shaped end portion 97 which extends generally perpendicularly from the central portion. The end portion 95 is secured to the lever arm 85 by an annular fitting 98 and a nut 99, and the Ushaped end 97 is rotatable in a plane generally transverse to the central portion 94 by an actuator arm 101. Rotation of the U-shaped end rotates the central portion 94, thereby swinging the end portion 95 through an arc to pivot the lever arm 85 in a generally vertical plane.

Theactuating arm 101 includes a generally vertically extending end portion 102, a relatively straight portion 104 extending generally perpendicularly from the end portion 102, an arcuately extending lever portion 105 which lies in a generally horizontal plane, and an outwardly extending end portion 106. The vertically extending end portion 102 extends through a pair of vertically spaced support legs 107 for the bracket 93 and is prevented from being withdrawn therefrom by a washer 108. The outer end portion may be provided with a knot 109.

The end 102 of the actuating arm is rotatably supported by the support legs 107 to permit swinging movement of the arcuate lever portion 105 in a generally horizontal plane. As the arcuate portion 105 is swung to the left as viewed in FIG. 5, it engages one of the side portions 97a of the U-shaped end of the crank arm and rotates the U-shaped end clockwise to swing the yoke 82 downwardly, thereby sliding the sleeve 80 downwardly over the wick. Similarly, when the arcuate portion 105 is swung to the right as viewed in FIG. 5, it engages the side portion 97b of the U-shaped end of the crank arm and causes the sleeve 80 to be moved upwardly with respect to the wick. For purposes of clarity, the wick has been omitted from FIGS. 5 and 6, but it will be understood that the sleeve slides over the outside of the wick between the lowered and raised positions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The sides 97a and 97b of the U-shaped end portion of the crank are spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of the arcuate portion of the actuating arm, and the arcuate portion passes between the side portions of the U-shaped end as the actuating arm swings in a horizontal plane. However, as the arcuate portion continues to swing toward the left as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bottom portion 97c will eventually rotate into engagement with the arcuate portion 105, and further movement of the crank arm and the actuating arm will be prevented. Similarly, as the actuating arm is swung to the right as viewed in FIG. 5 the straight portion 104 will eventually contact the side portion 97b of the crank.

FIGS. 9-11 are sectional views taken through the tubular connector looking toward the combustion head which illustrate the actuating means for raising and lowering the wick sleeve 80 in various positions. In FIG. 9, the actuating arm has been swung the maximum amount in the counterclockwise direction to pivot the outer end of the lever arm upwardly and to position the wick sleeve 80 in its lowered position. FIG. 10 illustrates the actuating arm in an intermediate position, and FIG. 11 illustrates the actuating arm rotated in the clockwise direction the maximum amount to move the wick sleeve to the raised position.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 12, as the arcuate portion 105 of the actuating arm is swung in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 9, the bottom portion 970 of the U-shaped end of the crank will eventually rotate upwardly to engage the arcuate portion. Further swinging movement of the arcuate portion in the counterclockwise direction will be restrained by the bottom portion 970, and the arcuate portion will become wedged between the side portion 97a and the bottom portion 970 at the juncture thereof as shown in FIG. 12. By applying force to the outer end of the actuating arm, the arcuate portion can be frictionally locked in the position illustrated in FIG. 9 by the forces exerted thereon by the side portion 97a and bottom portion 97c of the U-shaped end, which are exerted in generally perpendicular directions. The wick sleeve can thereby be releasably locked in the lowered position in which the upper end of the sleeve extends just beyond the heat-reflecting foil 54 in the combustion This lowered position of the wick sleeve is suitable for starting the catalytic heater and for providing maximum heat output.

The arcuate portions of the actuating arm can be disengaged from its frictional retention with the U-shaped end of the crank by exerting a clockwise force on the end of the actuating arm as shown in FIG. 10. As the arcuate portion swings in a clockwise direction it engages the side portion 97b of the U-shaped end portion and causes the wick sleeve to move upwardly. Continued swinging movement of the arcuate portion will eventually bring the straight portion 104 of the actuating arm into engagement with the side portion 97b. Further swinging movement of the actuating arm will therefore be restrained since the straight lever arm exerts a substantially outward force on the side portion 97b. However, if a relatively sharp jerk is applied to the actuating arm as the straight portion 104 approaches the side portion 97b, the elbow 104a (FIG. 14) formed by the juncture of the straight portion 104 with the arcuate portion 105 will pass outwardly between the sides of the U-shaped end of the crank, and the actuating arm will thereby be releaseably wedged or lodged between the two side portions. The wick sleeve will thereby be releasably locked in its uppermost position. The actuating arm can be released from its engagement with the crank by exerting a slight positive force in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 11 to move the elbow inwardly between the two side portions of the crank.

The operation of the heater is apparent from the foregoing description. The heater is assembled by inserting the upper end of the wick sleeve 80 through the central opening in the combustion head stiffener plate 44 and positioning the pins 84 thereof in the slotted ends of the yoke 82. The wick assembly is then secured by inserting the upper end of the wick through the wick sleeve and into the vapor collection space and then rotating the wick assembly to disalign the tabs 65 on the attaching collar and the slots 76 in the bottom wall of the tubular connector. The tubular connector is secured to the base housing by inserting the projections 39 through the slots 36 and then rotating the tubular connector relative to the housing. The O-ring 78 not only provides a vapor seal between the housing and the tubular connector, but it provides insulation between these parts to reduce the amount of heat that might otherwise be conducted from the combustion head to the fuel reservoir through the tubular connector. When the tubular connector is secured to the base housing, the vent notch 68 (FIG. 7) in the attaching collar will be aligned with one of the vent openings 77 in the bottom wall of the tubular connector to communicate the fuel reservoir with the combustion head through the space between the rim 45 of the plate 44 and the sleeve 80 so that the fuel reservoir is maintained at substantially atmospheric pressure.

The assembled heater is shown in FIG. 1, and the length of the wick is such that the bottom end thereof contacts the bottom wall 28 of the base housing. The outer woven tube 59 of the wick may be slit adjacent the bottom of the wick to permit the filaments 58 to spread into contacting and conforming relation to the bottom wall 28. The fuel will therefore continue to be withdrawn by the wick until the reservoir is empty.

The length of the upper portion of the wick is such that the upper end of the wick is positioned in the vapor collection space intermediate the domed top 48 of the combustion head and the heat-reflecting surface 54. Since the wick remains stationary within the vapor collection space, the upper end thereof can be positioned relative to the catalytic combustion element to provide optimum operating characteristics.

When the heater is being started or when maximum heat output is desired, the actuating arm is rotated to slide the wick sleeve to the lowered position illustrated in FIG. 1. In this position, the upper end of the wick sleeve is positioned just above the heat-reflecting surface 54, and substantially all of the wick which extends into the vapor collection space is exposed. A liquid fuel is drawn from the reservoir by capillary action and is evaporated on the exposed outer surface of the upper portion of the wick within the vapor collection space, and the amount of fuel supplied to the vapor collection space is therefore dependent upon the amount of surface area of the wick which is exposed. After the heater is started, the rate of vaporization of fuel from the upper portion of the wick may be varied as desired by moving the wick sleeve axially relative to the wick to vary the amount of exposed surface area of the wick.

The sleeve may be sized relative to the wick to provide sufficient frictional force therebetween to hold the sleeve in the desired position. Alternatively, actuating arm 101 may be designed so that the end portion 106 thereof swings over the top wall 30 of the housing in frictional engagement therewith to hold the sleeve in position.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, a portion of the wick remains exposed even when the wick sleeve 80 is raised to its uppermost position as shown in FIG. 2. The heater will therefore continue to operate, although at relatively low heat output, when the wick sleeve is in the raised position. The heater can be extinguished when desired by covering the combustion head with a snuffer cap having a shape corresponding to the shape of the catalytic heater. If desired, however, the actuating means for the wick sleeve could be constructed to position the upper end of the wick sleeve at or above the upper end of the wick when the wick sleeve is in the raised position to permit the heater to be extinguished by simply moving the actuating arm.

If the wick becomes clogged or embedded with carbonaceous material, lead deposits, or other products of combustion, the wick assembly can be quickly and easily replaced by the user. The tubular connector is first disconnected from the base housing by rotating the projections 39 into the mouth portions of the slots 36 and lifting the combustion head and tubular connector away from the housing. The wick assembly can then be removed by grasping the wick support tube 57 and rotating the tube to align the tabs 65 with the slots 76 in the bottom of the tubular connector. The wick assembly may then be withdrawn from the tubular connector and the wick sleeve for replacement with a new wick assembly.

In one specific embodiment of the invention, the wick was about three-fourths inch in diameter. About 1 inch of the wick was exposed when the wick sleeve was in the lowermost position and about one-eighth inch of the wick was exposed when the wick sleeve was in the uppermost position, and the heat output of the heater was thereby varied between about 5,000 B.t.u. per hour to about 3,000 B.t.u. per hour. Heaters having larger or smaller heat outputs can be provided, however, by varying the size of the catalytic combustion element and/or the size of the wick.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention was set forth, it will be understood that many of the details herein given can be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

I. In combination with a catalytic heater having a base housing providing a reservoir for liquid fuel, a combustion head thereabove, an enclosed fuel vapor collection space, a tubular connector extending between the combustion head and the base housing, an elongated capillary action wick extending from the res ervoir through the tubular connector into the vapor collection space for liquid fuel transfer therethrough to the vapor collection space, the improvement characterized by a support tube for the wick secured to the heater within the tubular connector, anchor means for securing the wick within the support tube against longitudinal movement, a tubular sleeve slidably received on the wick above the support tube, the sleeve being slidable longitudinally betweed a raised position in which the upper portion of the sleeve extends into the vapor collection space to cover the majority of the portion of the wick which extends into the vapor collection space and a lowered position whereby the amount of surface area of the wick exposed to the vapor collection space can be varied, and means for moving the sleeve between the raised and lowered positions.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the anchor means comprises portions of the wall of the support tube bent inwardly to engage the wick.

3. The combination of claim 1 including an attaching collar secured to the support tube and extending transversely outwardly therefrom, the attaching collar being removably secured to the tubular connector.

4. The combination of claim 1 including an attaching collar secured to the support tube and extending transversely outwardly therefrom, the attaching collar being removably secured to the tubular connector, the attaching collar including tab means and the tubular connector including a transversely inwardly extending bottom wall provided with a central opening therethrough for receiving the wick and slot means for receiving the tab means of the attaching collar whereby the attaching collar can be removably secured to the tubular connector by aligning the tab means thereof with the slot means and rotating the attaching collar with respect to the tubular connector to disalign the tab means and the slot means.

5. The combination of claim 1 in which the wick and support tube are generally cylindrical, an attaching collar secured to the support tube and extending radially outwardly therefrom, the collar being generally planar and having a generally circular periphery, circumferentially spaced portions of the collar being offset from the plane of the collar adjacent the periphery thereof to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced tabs, the tubular connector including a transversely inwardly extending bottom wall provided with a generally circular central opening having a diameter greater than the diameter of the wick but less than the diameter of the generally circular periphery of the collar, the bottom wall being provided with a plurality of slots extending radially outwardly from the central opening therethrough and sized and arranged to receive the tabs on the collar, the tabs being spaced from the plane of the collar a distance at least as great as the thickness of the bottom wall whereby the attaching collar can be removably secured to the tubular connector by aligning the tabs on the collar with the slots in the bottom wall, inserting the tabs into the slots and rotating the collar with respect to the tubular connector to position the tabs above portions of the bottom wall adjacent the periphery of the central opening therethrough.

6. The combination of claim 1 in which the base housing includes a generally vertically extending generally cylindrical attaching sleeve and an annular support wall having a central opening and extending radially inwardly from the attaching sleeve, the tubular connector being generally cylindrical and being received by the attaching sleeve of the base, means for releasably securing the tubular connector and the attaching sleeve against relative axial movement, and gasket means between the tubular connector and the annular support wall for providing a vapor seal therebetween.

7. The combination of claim 1 in which the base housing includes a generally vertically extending generally cylindrical attaching sleeve and an annular support wall having a central opening and extending radially inwardly from the attaching sleeve, the tubular connector being generally cylindrical and being received by the attaching sleeve of the base, means for releasably securing the tubular connector and the attaching sleeve against relative axial movement, and gasket means between the tubular connector and the annular support wall for providing a vapor seal therebetween, the tubular connector including a generally cylindrical side wall, a radially inwardly extending annular bottom wall and an inwardly and downwardly extending wall joining the cylindrical side wall and the bottom wall, the gasket means comprising an O-ring having an outside diameter substantially the same as the inside diameter of the attaching sleeve on the base, the O-ring being forced by the inwardly and downwardly extending wall of the tubular connector against the juncture between the generally cylindrical attaching sleeve and the annular support wall.

8. The combination of claim 1 in which the base housing includes a generally vertically extending generally cylindrical attaching sleeve and an annular support wall having a central opening and extending radially inwardly from the attaching sleeve, the tubular connector being generally cylindrical and being received by the attaching sleeve of the base, means for releasably se curing the tubular connector and the attaching sleeve against relative axial movement, and gasket means between the tubular connector and the annular support wall for providing a vapor seal therebetween, the means for releasably securing the tubular connector and the attaching sleeve including a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections extending radially outwardly from the tubular connector, the attaching sleeve being provided with a generally L-shaped slot for each of the projections on the tubular connector, each slot having a first portion extending generally downwardly from the upper edge of the attaching sleeve and a second portion extending generally transversely from the first portion whereby the tubular connector can be releasably secured to the attaching sleeve by lowering the projections into the first portions of the slots and then rotating the tubular connector to rotate the projections into the second portions of the slot.

9. The combination of claim 1 in which the wick and the support tube are generally cylindrical, an attaching collar secured to the support tube and extending radially outwardly therefrom, the collar being generally planar and having a generally circular periphery, circumferentially spaced portions of the collar being offset from the plane of the collar adjacent the periphery thereof to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced tabs, the tubular connector including a generally cylindrical side wall, a radially inwardly extending annular bottom wall and an inwardly and downwardly extending wall joining the cylindrical side wall and the bottom wall, the bottom wall of the tubular connector being provided with a generally circular central opening having a diameter greater than the diameter of the wick but less than the diameter of the generally circular periphery of the attaching collar, the bottom wall also being provided with a plurality of slots extending radially outwardly from the central opening therethrough and sized and arranged to receive the tabs on the collar, the base housing including a generally vertically extending generally cylindrical attaching sleeve and an annular support wall having a central opening and extending radially inwardly from the attaching sleeve, the inside diameter of the attaching sleeve being substantially the same as the outside diameter of the cylindrical side wall of the tubular connector, the tubular connector being rotatably received by the attaching sleeve, a compressible O-ring sealingly engaging the inwardly and downwardly extending wall of the tubular connector and the juncture between the attaching sleeve and the annular support wall of the base, and means for releasably securing the tubular connector and the attaching sleeve against relative axial movement.

10. The combination of claim 1 in which the means for moving the sleeve includes a lever arm extending through the tubular connector and pivotally mounted therein for movement in a plane extending generally through the axis of the tubular sleeve, the lever ann having one end thereof operatively connected to the tubular sleeve, a crank arm rotatably mounted on the heater and having one end thereof secured to the other end of the lever arm whereby rotation of the crank arm pivots the lever arm and moves the tubular sleeve axially.

11. The combination of claim 1 in which the means for moving the sleeve includes a lever arm extending through the tubular connector and pivotally mounted therein for movement in a plane extending generally through the axis of the tubular sleeve, the lever arm having'one end thereof operatively connected to the tubular sleeve, a crank arm rotatably mounted on the heater and having one end thereof secured to the other end of the lever arm whereby rotation of the crank arm pivots the lever arm and moves the tubular sleeve axially, the other end of the crank arm being provided with slot means and being rotatable in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the crank arm at the rotatable mounting thereof to the heater, an actuating arm including an arcuately extending lever portion, the actuating arm being mounted on the heater for swinging movement of the lever portion in a plane generally transverse to the plane in which the other end of the crank arm rotates, the lever portion extending through the slot means of the other end of the crank arm whereby swinging movement of the lever portion rotates the other end of the crank arm.

12. The combination of claim 11 in which the crank arm includes a central portion which is rotatably mounted to the heater, said one end of the crank arm being axially offset from the central portion and extending generally parallel therewith, the other end of the crank arm extending generally perpendicularly to the central portion and having a generally U-shaped end to provide said slot means.

13. The combination of claim 11 in which the actuating arm includes a generally straight portion extending generally perpendicularly from the arcuate lever por tion to provide an elbow, the generally straight portion being engageable with the other end of the crank arm as the lever portion swings in one direction to limit further movement of the actuating arm and the crank arm, the elbow being releasably lodgeable in the slot means to provide lock means for the crank arm for holding the tubular sleeve in one of the raised and lowered positions.

14. The combination of claim 11 in which the slot means has a bottom edge and a pair of side edges spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of the arcuate lever portion, the length of the arcuate portion being such that a portion thereof is engageable with the bottom edge and one of the side edges of the slot means as the lever portion swings in one direction to limit further movement of the actuating arm and the crank arm, the arcuate lever portion being frictionally engageable with said bottom edge and one side edge for holding the tubular sleeve in one of the raised and lowered positions.

15. The combination of claim 10 in which said one end of the lever arm includes fork means extending about the tubular sleeve, pin means extending outwardly from the tubular sleeve, the fork means slidably receiving the pin means for raising and lowering the tubular sleeve.

i l i I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE QRTTHCATE OF CORRECTION eacent No. 3,734,682 Dated May 22, 1973 Inventofls) Randal l L. May

it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

anci

T '1 in column 9, line 9, "be tweed" should be -becween.

Signed and sealed this'lst day of January 19m.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. RENE D. TEGTMEYER Acting Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. In combination with a catalytic heater having a base housing providing a reservoir for liquid fuel, a combustion head thereabove, an enclosed fuel vapor collection space, a tubular connector extending between the combustion head and the base housing, an elongated capillary action wick extending from the reservoir through the tubular connector into the vapor collection space for liquid fuel transfer therethrough to the vapor collection space, the improvement characterized by a support tube for the wick secured to the heater within the tubular connector, anchor means for securing the wick within the support tube against longitudinal movement, a tubular sleeve slidably received on the wick above the support tube, the sleeve being slidable longitudinally betweed a raised position in which the upper portion of the sleeve extends into the vapor collection space to cover the majority of the portion of the wick which extends into the vapor collection space and a lowered position whereby the amount of surface area of the wick exposed to the vapor collection space can be varied, and means for moving the sleeve between the raised and lowered positions.
 2. The combination of claim 1 in which the anchor means comprises portions of the wall of the support tube bent inwardly to engage the wick.
 3. The combination of claim 1 including an attaching collar secured to the support tube and extending transversely outwardly therefrom, the attaching collar being removably secured to the tubular connector.
 4. The combination of claim 1 including an attaching collar secured to the support tube and extending transversely outwardly therefrom, the attaching collar being removably secured to the tubular connector, the attaching collar including tab means and the tubular connector including a transversely inwardly extending bottom wall provided with a central opening therethrough for receiving the wick and slot means for receiving the tab means of the attaching collar whereby the attaching collar can be removably secured to the tubular connector by aligning the tab means thereof with the slot means and rotating the attaching collar with respect to the tubular connector to disalign the tab means and the slot means.
 5. The combination of claim 1 in which the wick and support tube are generally cylindrical, an attaching collar secured to the support tube and extending radially outwardly therefrom, the collar being generally planar and having a generally circular periphery, circumferentially spaced portions of the collar being offset from the plane of the collar adjacent the periphery thereof to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced tabs, the tubular connector including a transversely inwardly extending bottom wall provided with a generally circular central opening having a diameter greater than the diameter of the wick but less than the diameter of the generally circular periphery of the collar, the bottom wall being provided with a plurality of slots extending radially outwardly from the central opening therethrough and sized and arranged to receive the tabs on the collar, the tabs being spaced from the plane of the collar a distance at least as great as the thickness of the bottom wall whereby the attaching collar can be removably secured to the tubular connector by aligning the tabs on the collar with the slots in the bottom wall, inserting the tabs into the slots and rotating the collar with respect to the tubular connector to position the tabs above portions of the bottom wall adjacent the periphery of the central opening therethrough.
 6. The combination of claim 1 in which the base housing includes a generally vertically extending generally cylindrical attaching sleeve and an annular support wall having a central opening and extending radially inwardly from the attaching sleeve, the tubular connector being generally cylindrical and being received by the attaching sleeve of the base, means for releasably securing the tubular connector and the attaching sleeve against relative axial movement, and gasket means between the tubular connector and the annular support wall for providing a vapor seal therebetween.
 7. The combination of claim 1 in which the base housing includes a generally vertically extending generally cylindrical attaching sleeve and an annular support wall having a central opening and extending radially inwardly from the attaching sleeve, the tubular connector being generally cylindrical and being received by the attaching sleeve of the base, means for releasably securing the tubular connector and the attaching sleeve against relative axial movement, and gasket means between the tubular connector and the annular support wall for providing a vapor seal therebetween, the tubular connector including a generally cylindrical side wall, a radially inwardly extending annular bottom wall and an inwardly and downwardly extending wall joining the cylindrical side wall and the bottom wall, the gasket means comprising an O-ring having an outside diameter substantially the same as the inside diameter of the attaching sleeve on the base, the O-ring being forced by the inwardly and downwardly extending wall of the tubular connector against the juncture between the generally cylindrical attaching sleeve and the annular support wall.
 8. The combination of claim 1 in which the base housing includes a generally vertically extending generally cylindrical attaching sleeve and an annular support wall having a central opening and extending radially inwardly from the attaching sleeve, the tubular connector being generally cylindrical and being received by the attaching sleeve of the base, means for releasably securing the tubular connector and the attaching sleeve against relative axial movement, and gasket means between the tubular connector and the annular support wall for providing a vapor seal therebetween, the means for releasably securing the tubular connector and the attaching sleeve including a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections extending radially outwardly from the tubular connector, the attaching sleeve being provided with a generally L-shaped slot for each of the projections on the tubular connector, each slot having a first portion extending generally downwardly from the upper edge of the attaching sleeve and a second portion extending generally transversely from the first portion whereby the tubular connector can be releasably secured to the attaching sleeve by lowering the projections into the first portions of the slots and then rotating the tubular connector to rotate the projections into the second portions of the slot.
 9. The combination of claim 1 in which the wick and the support tube are generally cylindrical, an attaching collar secured to the support tube and extending radially outwardly therefrom, the collar being generally planar and having a generally circular periphery, circumferentially spaced portions of the collar being offset from the plane of the collar adjacent the periphery thereof to provide a plurality of circumfErentially spaced tabs, the tubular connector including a generally cylindrical side wall, a radially inwardly extending annular bottom wall and an inwardly and downwardly extending wall joining the cylindrical side wall and the bottom wall, the bottom wall of the tubular connector being provided with a generally circular central opening having a diameter greater than the diameter of the wick but less than the diameter of the generally circular periphery of the attaching collar, the bottom wall also being provided with a plurality of slots extending radially outwardly from the central opening therethrough and sized and arranged to receive the tabs on the collar, the base housing including a generally vertically extending generally cylindrical attaching sleeve and an annular support wall having a central opening and extending radially inwardly from the attaching sleeve, the inside diameter of the attaching sleeve being substantially the same as the outside diameter of the cylindrical side wall of the tubular connector, the tubular connector being rotatably received by the attaching sleeve, a compressible O-ring sealingly engaging the inwardly and downwardly extending wall of the tubular connector and the juncture between the attaching sleeve and the annular support wall of the base, and means for releasably securing the tubular connector and the attaching sleeve against relative axial movement.
 10. The combination of claim 1 in which the means for moving the sleeve includes a lever arm extending through the tubular connector and pivotally mounted therein for movement in a plane extending generally through the axis of the tubular sleeve, the lever arm having one end thereof operatively connected to the tubular sleeve, a crank arm rotatably mounted on the heater and having one end thereof secured to the other end of the lever arm whereby rotation of the crank arm pivots the lever arm and moves the tubular sleeve axially.
 11. The combination of claim 1 in which the means for moving the sleeve includes a lever arm extending through the tubular connector and pivotally mounted therein for movement in a plane extending generally through the axis of the tubular sleeve, the lever arm having one end thereof operatively connected to the tubular sleeve, a crank arm rotatably mounted on the heater and having one end thereof secured to the other end of the lever arm whereby rotation of the crank arm pivots the lever arm and moves the tubular sleeve axially, the other end of the crank arm being provided with slot means and being rotatable in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the crank arm at the rotatable mounting thereof to the heater, an actuating arm including an arcuately extending lever portion, the actuating arm being mounted on the heater for swinging movement of the lever portion in a plane generally transverse to the plane in which the other end of the crank arm rotates, the lever portion extending through the slot means of the other end of the crank arm whereby swinging movement of the lever portion rotates the other end of the crank arm.
 12. The combination of claim 11 in which the crank arm includes a central portion which is rotatably mounted to the heater, said one end of the crank arm being axially offset from the central portion and extending generally parallel therewith, the other end of the crank arm extending generally perpendicularly to the central portion and having a generally U-shaped end to provide said slot means.
 13. The combination of claim 11 in which the actuating arm includes a generally straight portion extending generally perpendicularly from the arcuate lever portion to provide an elbow, the generally straight portion being engageable with the other end of the crank arm as the lever portion swings in one direction to limit further movement of the actuating arm and the crank arm, the elbow being releasably lodgeable in the slot means to provide lock means for the crank arm for holding the tubular sleeve in one of the raised aNd lowered positions.
 14. The combination of claim 11 in which the slot means has a bottom edge and a pair of side edges spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of the arcuate lever portion, the length of the arcuate portion being such that a portion thereof is engageable with the bottom edge and one of the side edges of the slot means as the lever portion swings in one direction to limit further movement of the actuating arm and the crank arm, the arcuate lever portion being frictionally engageable with said bottom edge and one side edge for holding the tubular sleeve in one of the raised and lowered positions.
 15. The combination of claim 10 in which said one end of the lever arm includes fork means extending about the tubular sleeve, pin means extending outwardly from the tubular sleeve, the fork means slidably receiving the pin means for raising and lowering the tubular sleeve. 